Planet-Wide Party

The earth has given a lot to you, so come on out and celebrate its special day

Earth Day is a big celebration befitting a big beautiful planet. Our variation takes place at the Muny grounds in Forest Park on Sunday, April 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Earth Day is observed around the world -- even in Crawford, Texas. Perhaps our president, the Kyoto Accord refusenik, will take a stroll around his lovely ranch on Sunday and rue all the despoilers his EPA neglects to prosecute. Or perhaps we're smoking something his DEA would have us tossed in the clink for.

Events in Forest Park and regionally are bountiful. Herewith, a mere taste: If you pedal to the park Sunday, you'll get the VIP treatment; the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation is offering free "valet" bike parking in front of the Muny. No traffic quagmires there. Want to be rid of wheels entirely? Register at 7:30 a.m. at the lower Muny parking lot for the 5K Walk/Run for the Rivers. For those desiring slightly less exertion, the queen of our city parks will host a multitude of performances and interactive affairs, from live music to dance, storytelling, a poetry circle and, if you're a dab hand with a brush, face- painting -- or even, courtesy of Metro's Arts in Transit program, bus-painting (10 a.m. on the Muny parking lot; exact change not required, just an eye for color and composition). All of these events are free.

Interfaith organization Faith Beyond Walls (www.faithbeyondwalls.org for more info) is sponsoring a tree- and flower-planting in the park. Those who can dig it should meet at the Steinberg Skating Rink at 2 p.m. -- shovel and work gloves in hand, preferably. And if the shoe fits, recycle it: Remains, Inc., in partnership with the National Recycling Coalition and Nike, will be collecting athletic shoes for reuse or recycling at the upper Muny parking lot from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a complete roundup of Earth Day activities in Forest Park and the metro area, visit www.stlouisearthday.org.